Automatic measuring and bagging machine for produce



May 13, 1952 E. A. ERNST 2,596,768

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 19474 Sheets-Sheet 1 II IIH MN MW 3nnentor EARL A. ERNST attorney y 1952 E.A.,ERNST 2,596,768

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 19474 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 2.

Jnvento: EARL A. ERNST (lttorneg y 1952 E. A. ERNST 2,596,768

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 19474 SheetsSheet 5 FIG. 3. 4

May 13, 1952 E. A. ERNST AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FORPRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nnento1: EARL A. ERNSTGttomeg Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATICMEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Earl A. Ernst, Bakersfield,Calif.

Application October 20, 1947, Serial No. 780,792

Claims.

This invention relates to means and ways for loading articles,particularly fruits and vegeta bles, into bags from a source of supplywhich normally would be a large vat, bin, or hopper and the like. Such adevice has long been in demand in the potato districts, as well as, inthe orange and lemon districts of California. The device is so designedand arranged that the articles to be bagged are first discharged from alarge bin onto a running endless conveyor means or directly dischargedinto spaced apart measuring chambers or buckets with no bottom, butwherein the bottoms of the sides thereof ride over a smooth floor to anopen space therein where the articles are dumped onto a cross runningendless belt. This structure provides the cross running belt with aplurality of spaced apart groups or piles of the articles ready to beshifted from the belt and into bag holding means where the articles aresuitably bagged. A few seconds later, the bagged articles are shifted toan endless belt type of conveyor in trough-like form where the tops ofthe bags are sewed as they are run toward their final place of dischargewhich may be a railroad car, truck, or other means of transport boundfor thevarious markets.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a new andnovel means for gathering and bagging articles in accordance to measuredcharges, then sealing the bags and finally delivering them to means fortransport to market.

Another object is to provide a pair of cooperating machines for groupingand bagging fruits and vegetables which is automatic in operation,constructed to give long and lasting service, and so designed that it iseconomical to make and manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will appearfrom the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, thepreamble to these specifications and the appended claims.

Applicant is now about to describe one form of his invention in order toteach one how to make and use the same, but it is to be understood thatthe drawings and description thereof are not to limit the invention inany sense whatsoever except as specifically limited by the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire device of this invention, theprincipal sides or views thereof being .legended A to D,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of side C of the device as shownin Fig.1,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of side A, but omitting the unit in theback ground,

Figure 4 is an elevational view of side D,

Figure 5 is an elevational view of side B, only one of the units beingshown however,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFig. 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the pairs of the bagholders,

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of an important part ofthe invention.

The entire device is composed of two principal units which have beendesignated l and 2 in the drawings, note Figure 1. The united two unitsare joined together to operate as a single device under a common sourceof power and control.

The unit I includes the plurality of bag holding element 3 and itsworking mechanism, the bag supporting platform 4, the under feeding beltmeans 5, and the bag carrier trough 6 that carries the loaded bags fromthe bag loading unit I to a place of final disposition.

The unit 2 includes the hopper I, the load proportional chamber means 8,and the variously arranged mechanism for its complete operation.

The bagging unit I has the rectangular structural frame members 9 andII] which may be combined with any other suitable structural means toprovide a protective channel H (see Fig. '7) for their respective chainsl2, as shown in Fig. 1. Each bag holding element 3, as shown in Fig. 7,comprises a square bar I3 having at its ends the offset knuckles M whichare secured to the chain links on its particular side of the unit. Neareach outer end of the bar is fixed a curved short plate l5, each ofwhich is provided with a bag gripping bead l6 and the embossed portionsI! which aid in holding bags thereto. The means for holding the platesmay be just a sleeve IS with a square bore therein, the plate beingwelded or otherwise fixed to the sleeve and. positioned as shown. A setscrew I9 is employed in each sleeve so that it can be anchored wherdesired along the bar 13'. This adjustable feature of the plate l5 makesit possible to accommodate different sized bags. The complementarycurved long plate for each short plate is indicated at 20. Each one ofthese long plates are also embossed, but the outer ends thereof arecurved, as shown at 2|, to provide a reduced end which reaches far intothe bag and which makes it easier to place the bag onto the pair ofplates when they are pressed together by mechanism to be explainedlater.

Each long plate has an elongated sleeve "22.

with a squared bore that is shiftable along the bar I3, the sleeve andplate being welded or otherwise secured together. A coiled tensionspring 23 (see Fig. has its ends secured to the two adjacent long platesso as to constantly urge them together and thus cause each short andlong pair of plates to take an expanded position when released.Jo-urnalled beneath each long plate there is a roller 24 and betweenthese rollers is shown the abutting upstanding flanges of the angleirons 25 and 26, these angle irons forming a track 2'! which issupported by the cross angle iron members 28 and which have their endssupported by the frame members 9 and It, as shown. The track 2! maybeaclosed loop and be substantially in alinement between the two sideframes 9 and III except for. the bends which are rounded, but it ispreferred to provide the track only where needed, that is, where the bagholders must be compressed in order to receive an empty bag or release afull bag. In order to compress the pair of bag holders on each bar, thelong plates are spread apart by spreading the double railed trackmembers 25 and 2B apart. Note, as shown in Fig. 1, that the rail 25 isoffset so as to compress the left bag holders in front of the bagsupporting platform 4, and that the rail ZE-is onset in front'of the bagsupporting platform 4 so that the bags therefrom can be easilyplacedover the plates at this point.

The two spaced apart chains 12 which carry the bag carriers are passedaround their respective and well positioned sprocket Wheels 29, 35, SIand 32, and that these wheels are properly journalled to theiradjacent-vertical frame members Stand 34 at each endof the unit, themembers 34, however, extending-downward to provide legs. Extensions 9'and I0 are also provided on each sideof the unit to act as legs for theunit. At one side of the-unit, the sprocket wheel 32 (see Fig. 3) hasfixed thereto a small sprocket wheel '35, and this wheel is linked to'a'sprocket wheel 35 by the chain 31 which passes partly aroundthepositioned sprocket wheels 38 and 39 in the manner shown so that thechain can be easily kept taut and the proper directional motion given tothe wheel 32.

The sprocket wheel 36 is fixed to the same shaft as the ratchet wheel 46which is a part of an escapement-like device. This wheel has four evenlyspaced teeth 4| about its perimeter which are engaged by the pawl 42,this pawl being pivoted for riding upward on the curved surface of eachtooth and then dropping to engage the flat side of the tooth. The'pawlis pivoted to the top of a lever 43, and this lever is reciprocated bythe rod 44, the ends of the rod having a pivot connection with the leverand a small fly wheel 45, as shown. Fixed to the same shaft with theflywheel there is a sprocket wheel 45 which is linked to asmall'sprocket wheel on the shaft of the electric slow speed motor '4'!by the endless chain '48.

The above'related construction and arrange ment, causes the continuousrunning motor 4'! to intermittently operate the pawl 42 and this pawlperiodically operates the ratchet wheel 40 which in turn through thechain 31 and "chains I2, cause the bag holders to stop at shortintervals for receiving their load of whatever article or thing is being"bagged atthe time. However, the timing of the stop period is suchas toregister each pair of bag holders 'in sequence with their respectiveload -guide elements '49 and 50.

4 These elements are hollow cylinders and receive their portion of thethings being bagged via the curved bafile plates 5| and 52 (see Fig. 1).These baflle plates are supported above the endless conveyor belt 5, thetop of which carries predetermined staggered groups or charges of thething to be bagged from unit 2.

A trough-like conveyor 6 is employed to carry the loaded bags to ashipping point after first being released from their respective bagholders. The rails 25 and 26 are again separated at the unloading pointjust above the rear end of the conveyor 5 so as to spread the longcurved plates 2| apart :and thus release their bags and allow them tofall onto the carrier means 6.

The carrier means 6 comprises two endless belts 5'3 and 54 set at theangle best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the bottom of the bagengages the top of belt 54 and since this belt is inclined, one side ofthe bag rests against the other inclined belt 53, and in this manner,the'loaded'bags are carried away in a suitable position for easy sewingor pasting of the open tops thereof. The belts are supported by anysuitable means, such as end rollers, which are journalled to end frames(not Figs. 2 and 3) which comprise a long leg 55 and a short leg 56 heldapart by the roller shaft 51 and the frame member '58. Extendingupwardly from member 58 there is a frame-member 5d, the ends of whichhavethe journal boxes for supporting a .roller shaft 60 which acts aspart of the framing. Any suitable frame is provided for spacing theroller units apart, or each unit is anchored to the floor. One of theroller units may be driven by a suitable'power means such as an electricmotor.

Necessary upright framing members 'Ifl-76 Withthe cross membersandbraces 11--82'support parts of the unit 2 and the bin or hopper 1. Thehopper 1 has the end baliles 83 and 84 and central bafile 85 fordirectingthe things to be measured and bagged intothe low levelegressopenings 86 and B'Lasshown. These openings are valve controlled and dropthe things to-be bagged into the open tops- 01" the measuring chambers83, the cross walls 89 between them each comprising a triangulars'haped'hollow member (see Fig. 2) the narrow opposed ends of which arerigidly fixed to the pair of spaced apart chains 90 and M. These chainsare supported by their respective end sprocket wheels 92 and 93 Whichinturn are supported for'ro'tation upon their respective shafts 94 and 95,as shown. A

shaft '96 (see Fig. 1) provides power from the wheel 38 and this shaftrotates thesprocket wheel 9'! that drives the sprocket wheels 92 thatare keyed to opposite ends of the shaft 94., the connectionbetweenwheels 91 and SZbeingmade by the chain '98. r r

The walls 89 of the measuringchambers' I88 slide over a smooth metalfloor I00 (see Fig. 8) until they reach their respective staggeredopenings IOI in this floor whereth entire' measured charge in thechamberfalls onto the :under running belt 5; A bafile=lll2 :is provided toguide the produce and avoid "spillage. Sidewalls 103, I94, I05 and I06are fixed in position, as :shown, to complete the measuring chambers 88.Each pair of moving cross Walls 89 is fixed to a bar member I01 whichhas the end extension I08 to receive its respective socket in the chainwhich runs through the channel 109 on each side of the measuring part ofthedevi'ce. A'slow-speed motor H0, which may have reduction gears, is

provided for operating the belt 5 at a suitable speed. I

It should now be apparent that the escapement device 40 shifts themeasuring chambers over floor H and also the bag holders intermittentlyso as to allow sufficient time for the measuring chambers 88 to receivea complete charge of the produce when under the bin openings and to beemptied completely when registered with their respective floor openingsl9! and that this intermittent operation also allows for time in whichto fill the bags upon the bag holders and to release the bags from theirholders at the proper position at the carry-away belt system 6. Theunder running belt 5 is in continuous operation as there is no need forthis belt to run intermittently. In Fig. 2, the arrows indicate thedirections of the chains in both units.

For subjacently supporting the loaded bags on the machine, an underrunning endless belt III is provided which is supported by the endrollers H2 and H3 and these rollers are supported by the pair of spacedapart horizontal frame members H4 which are fixed to their adjacentupright frame members. The belts 5 and I II are very taut in order tomaintain. a substantially level and flat surface.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details of form, style, design, and construction of thewhole or any part of the specifically described embodiment of thisinvention without departing from the spirit thereof; such changes andmodifications being within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a bagging machine, a pair of side-by-side endless conveyors in theform of elongated loops, one of the loops having a plurality of open topand open bottom measuring chambers fixed thereto and the other loophaving a plurality of open top and open bottom bag holders thereon, afloor under the top portion of the loop having the measuring chambers, adischarge opening in the center portion of the floor, a feed channelover the bottom portion of the loop having the bag holders, and crosstransfer means extending from under the floor opening to the top of thefeed channel for directing measured amounts of farm and orchard producefrom one loop to the other and into bags for their shipment.

2. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein the bag holders arecompressible, rail means at one top portion of the bag holder loop forallowing compression of the bag holders forthe purpose of receiving bagsand rail means near the bottom portion for again allowing compression ofthe bag holders for dropping them.

3. In a bagging machine and the like, a pair of side-by-side endlessconveyors in the form of elongated loops, one of the loops having aplurality of open top and open bottom measuring chambers fixed theretoand the other loop having a plurality of open top and open bottom bagholders thereon, a floor under the top portion of the loop having themeasuring chambers, an opening in the floor, a feed channel over thebottom portion of the loop having the bag holders, and transfer meansextending from under the floor opening to the top of the feed channelfor directing measured amounts of farm and orchard produce from one loopto the other and into bags for their shipment, said bag holders beingarranged in groups of two upon a common support, each bag holdercomprising a pair of curved plates, means on the plates for holdingtheir bags secured thereto, and spring means on the support forconstantly urging the two inner curved plates of each pair toward oneanother.

4. In a device for measuring produce and the like, a pair ofside-by-side units, a first unit having a frame supporting a pair ofendless spaced apart chain loops, a plurality of pairs of cross wallsspaced along and between the chains to form spaced apart abreastedmeasuring chambers and the cross walls of which have means which causethem to travel with the chains, a plurality of spaced elongated fixedwalls providing channels for the cross walls to ride between, a fixedfloor along portions of the chains providing bottoms for the chambersbetween the cross walls and an opening in the fioor intermediate itsends through which loaded chambers can drop their charges; a second unitadjacent and parallel to the first unit having a pair of spaced apartparallel chain loops provided with adjustable bag holders attachedthereto and positioned between them, track and spring means for changingthe size of the bag holders, a discharge means under which the bagholders pass, and a cross conveyor means extendingfrom beneath the sideopening in the floor to the discharge means for transferring groups ofthe produce to the bag holders.

5. The device recited in claim 4 wherein means are provided forintermittently operating the pairs of chain loops in unison, said meansincluding a toothed wheel with a pawl riding the teeth thereof and aneccentric wheel with a lever and crank for turning the toothed wheel,said pawl being pivoted to the crank so as to move the toothed wheel atshort intervals.

EARL A. ERNST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,058,747 I-Ioepner Apr. 15, 19131,079,628 Armbruster Nov. 25, 1913 1,376,249 Buehler Apr. 26, 19211,385,498 Schafier July 26, 1921 1,667,930 Edmunds May 1, 1928 1,927,318McEntee et al Sept. 19, 1933 2,007,874 Redler July 9, 1935 2,209,476Redler July 30, 1940 2,343,439 Allen et a1, .Mar. 7. 1944 2,352,863Robinson July 4, 1944

